Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan has joined World Leaders in a call for People’s Vaccine against COVID-19.
The People’s Vaccine call for being available to all free of charge and in all countries. It means ones the vaccine is developed it should be mass-produced and distributed fairly and equally in all countries free of cost.
Over 149 leaders have signed the open letter organized by UNAids and Oxfam. Some of the leaders who signed this letter include PM Imran Khan, Nana Addo Dankwa President of Ghana, Cyril Ramaphosa President of South Africa, Mack Sally President of Senegal.
Other signatories include some of the well known public figures, including former world leaders.
The open letter urges Health Minister at the World health Assembly to support this people’s vaccine. The letter also asks all governments and International partners to unite and ensure when the vaccine is developed it is produced rapidly at a large scale and made available to all people in all countries.
This call for people’s vaccine also applies for all the treatments, and technologies for COVID-19.
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Coronavirus has infected more than 4 million people globally and killed 299,596 people. While in some countries the outbreak has slowed down, the fears of second phase of outbreak is expected to hit the world.
PM Imran Khan has expressed fears that developing countries might not have quick and affordable access to the vaccine.
The open letter for people’s vaccine sees the world to be safe only when every one can benefit from science and get access to the vaccine.
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The letter states:
The World Health Assembly must forge a global agreement that ensures rapid universal access to quality-assured vaccines and treatments with need prioritized above the ability to pay.
The letter also suggests we must learn from the past from the history of unequal access in dealing with diseases like HIV and Ebola.
The letter ends with saying only people’s vaccine can protect all of humanity and make societies safe and running again.